Bobbin cutter



SePf- 9 1952 E. K. BAUER ETAL 2,609,876

BOBBIN CUTTER Filed March 15, 1950 3 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. ERNEST K. BAUER WILL IAM E. JAMES Tron/vt Sept- 9, 1952 E. K. BAUER ETAL 2,609,876

I BOBBIN CUTTER Filed March 15, 195o' 5* sheets-sheet 2 INVENToRs. Y r ERNEST K. BAUER W/LL/M E. JME

l A TYDRNK Patented Sept. 9, 1952 2,609,876 BoBBIN CUTTER Ernest K. Bauer and William E. James, Meadville, Pa., assignors to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Dela- Ware Application March 15, 1950, Serial No. 149,784

(Cl. 164'73)A 11 Claims.

rihis invention relates to apparatus for removing strand material from strand package cores, bobbins and the like and particularly to an apparatus for cutting the strand material to facilitate the removal thereof.

In the manufacturing of strands, especially those of textile materials. the collection of yarns, threads and the like into packages is eiiected by winding the strand onto a spool, bobbin or core which controls the shape of the package and provides a surface which may be gripped to support the package in subsequent treatments or rewinding operations. It sometimes happens in the manufacturing of textile strands that a wound package is unacceptable for further processes and that the defective material must be removed in order that the core may again be used or, as frequently happens, the residual strand of a Y package remaining after a winding operation must be removed to reclaim the core or the strand.

lt is an object of the invention to provide an automatic apparatus for removing the strand material from a core member or spool upon which the material is wound. It is another object to provide a strand removing apparatus which may be operated safely and rapidly. It is still another object to provide an apparatus which is simpler in construction and easier to maintain than the prior art devices. Still another object is to provide a strand stripping apparatus which is unusually. quiet in operation and economical in door space. Other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following clescription of the invention and the drawing relating thereto in which Fig. l is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. l; Y

Fig. 3 is a pictorial view of a slide bar and guide assembly included in the apparatus of Figs.

Fig. e is an elevation of the knife-supporting assembly as viewed from the end of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a portion of the apparatus illustrating the relationship of a control switch and switch actuating members;

Fig. 6 illustrates a wound package with the strand material thereof incised;

Fig. 7 is a diagram of the electrical system and iluid conducting system used for controlling the apparatus; and I I Fig. 8. is a diagram illustrating another arrangement of an electrical system and fluid conducting system for controlling the apparatus.

In brief, an apparatus according to the invention comprises a cutting member and package holding members whose movements are produced by fluid pressure which is automatically controlled to produce a desired sequence in the movements of the members to grip the wound package, to strip or sever the strand, and to release the package. 1

The apparatus of Figs. 1 to '7 is illustrated in plan view in Fig. 1 and comprises chucks III and II for gripping and centering a strand package shown in dotted outline at 48. A knife I2 and a carriage 24 to which the knife is secured. are reciprocable with respect to a guide I4 in a direction toward and away from an axis extending through the members I0 and II. The guide I4 and a fluid cylinder II are secured to and supported by a carriage I8 which is slidable along the guide members I9 in a direction parallel to the axis of chucks I0 and I I. The carriage I8 is reciprocated by a iiuid cylinder 2B which is fixed to the main frame 2| of the apparatus. The carriage 24 is reciprocated with respect to the carriage 'I8 and the guide I4 by the fluid cylinder I1. The knife I2 is secured with respect to the carriage 24 by a screw clamp assembly 25 mounted on the carriage 24. The chuck I0 is reciprocable along its axis in a direction toward and away from the other chuck II While supported by a guide block 26 secured to the bracket 21. Reciprocation of the member I0 is eiiected by operation of the fluid cylinder 29 with the reciprocable force being transmitted from the cylinder to the member `I0 through the piston rod 3l and a slide bar 32 of trapezoidal cross section.

Movement of the iluid used for operating the cylinders I1, 20 and 29 is obtained according to a desired time sequence by operation of solenoidcontrolled master control valves 35 and 36. Since the cylinder Il moves relative to the frame 2| in consequence of being supported by the carriage I8, it is connected by iiexible tubes 31 and 38 with the valve 35. The cylinder 29 is also connected with the ports of the valve 35 which are connected with the cylinder I1, but on account of a sequence valve 40 in the line 31, (see Fig. 7) the cylinder 29 is actuated to move the packageholding chuck I to the right (into the position shown) before cylinder Il is actuated to produce movement of the knife I2 toward the axis of the package-holding members. The sequence valve di) is of the type allowing free flow in the reverse direction. An Vair sequence valve manufactured by the Logansport Machine Company, Inc. identied as Model 6411 and described on page i0 of Bulletin- 371 published by that company is an example of the type that may be used for the sequence valves 49 and 41E. The valve lii is sul ciently resistant to the passage of air to prevent air from entering the cylinder Il through line 3l until movement of the chuck It tol the rightfis completed and a pressureriseoccurs in cylinder 23.

In a later portion of the operating cycle of the machine, another sequence valve lift is used to restrain the flow of air through the line {terr-,om the valve 35 into the cylinder 29 so as todelay the package-releasing return stroke of the chuck iii to the left until the knife I2 is'withdrawn toV a position in the'cl'ear of the package.` Before air can enter the right end of cylinder 2s, the cyiinder I'I re'ceiveslsufiicient air through Yline 33 to cause theknife I2 tocmpletely withdraw from the bobbinf ('shovwnfinV ghost'outline in Figs. l and 2,) in the direction determined by the guide le. Oncethecylinder il has completed its kniferetracting stroke, the airfpwressure rises in the line 35 and overcomes the resistance of valve Le to the passage of the air. `i`he right end of cylinder 29 may then receive'air andthus effect a package-releasing stroke. n y Y The operation of cylinder 2li produces movement of the knife I 2 in adirection which is longitudinal with respectto the package supported between the members I8 and II. lWith the knife Y adjustedvat the desired distance laterally from the core of thefpa'ckage to engage the strand material of the package, the forward stroke producedA loyvcylinderV 20 results in the ysevering of windings at a desired depth. v Forward and return movements of cylinder 'Zifand the knife vare determined by the closing of niicroswitches d and 5I. The 'microswitch 5S is vactuated by` acaln 53Ii'l'ounted 'on the side of the carriage 24. Move ment of the carriage 24 and the knife toward the package until the knife has penetrated the package to the'desired depth of thevlongitudinal cut to be made 'brings the camf' into engagement with the trigger-finger 55 of the switch el?. This switch is electrically connected with the solenoid Swhich controls the passage of air into the cylinder through a lineA 58. The cylinder 2o subsequently moves the knife I2 and the supporting assembly therefor in a direction toward the right as viewed in Figs. l and 2 untilaleading surface Eil of the carriage I8 vengagesthe plungeri of the switch 5I. A solenoid 64 for operating the valve 36 is electrically connected with'the switch 5I.V The action of cylinder 2u is thereupon reversed by operation of the solenoid 6d to change the setting of the valve 36 and air passes through a line 66 into the vright end of the cylinder 2e.

Button switches 'i0 and 'II are located on an outer surface of the frame 2| near the top there- Vof and placed in series arrangement in the main circuit for energizing the apparatus. Both buttons must be engaged by the operator to operate the machine. Since the switches are spaced at substantial distance, obviously, an operator must use both hands to push the buttons; consequent- 4.. ly, his hands are necessarily restricted from' err--` tering any of the regions traversed by moving portions of the machine.

A preferable operating'oyele for the machine is set forth hereinbelow with. particular reference to Fig. 7 and according to the following sequence. A bobbin is placed on a stand or rest 'Z13 and over chuck I I, and the buttons of the two switches 7U, 7i are pressed. A solenoid 'i5 is energized and sets the valve' 35 so that` it"passes fairfinto and through the line :i2 into thecylinder 29. The knob I0 moves into the position shown in Figs. l, 2 in which it grips the package 48. When the knob or chuck I0 completes its movement to the right, the air pressure increases within the cylinder 29 fand the line 3'! tocylinder I? until it overcomes the'resistanceo'fy the sequence valve d@ to passage rof the air. Whenthe valve 'i8 opens, cylinder il moves the knife "I2 into the position shown in the f Figs. 'land 2. H oweven as the knife moves intel V cutting position, the cam 53 actuates the switch fiand closes a circuit to the solenoid 55. AirA then feeds through the line 'into the cylinder 2s and the knife is carried toward lthe right as'. viewed inFigs. l r`and 2 along a pathv parallel to the package axis. The stroke "is completedwhen i surface E@ engagestheplunger'of the switch#` 5i. The solenoid 64 and thevalveSG are ac-l tuated as hereinbefore described to'reverse' thel flow of air into'the cylin`der2. 'The piston of' cylinder/23de then'ectedup'on by air admitted. into'the right end-'portion of the cylinder throughA line'ii until 'the `carriage yI8` and the 'knife-hold ing ap-paratussupported thereupon complete th'eiri movement to theieft. Near the end'of'the stroke-f of this assembly 'to the left, a cam "i8, best shownz in Figs. 4 and, `engages the trigger '19 of al microswitcht!V secured toaportion of the-frame 2l. The trigger 'I9 is so designed that; a'pivotable element 82 thereof will tilt to permit'the camit supported on an undersurface of the carriage 2&1 to pass'overin vthedirection of the arrow in-Fig. 5 without moving the arm of the trigger extending from the body of the switch el. However, when the cam passes over in the opposite direction, the element 82'does not tilt and the trigger is swung toward theAright-as viewed in Fig. 5 to close the switch. At this junctureyit should be noted that although the cam 'I8 issecuredto the carriage "2li, engagementv of the `cam with the switchs produced by movement ofthe carriage i8 which'supports the carriage 2li. Operationof the switch 8| closes an electrical circuit whichincludes a solenoid 'd5 for controllingA the valve 35. The solenoid in becoming energizedadjusts the valve tothe setting wherein it Vdirects airV through line 3B into the cylinder I 'Iwhioh then pulls the carriage 24 and the knife l2 `toward the cylinder to a position wherein the knife` is clear ofthe package 33. When thecylinder I'I 'has'completed its stroke, the pressure rises in'theline 35 to overcome'the resistance'of the 'sequencevalve dil to thepassage of air into thecylinder "29. Air then' enters thecylinder 2ii'to 4retract 'the chuck id. Fig. 6 illustratesv a'package which has passed through a complete operating cycle of the 'Iriarchine just described toproduce a longitudinal incisione?. The severed strand material may be brushed, shaken or otherwise urged from the i weer@ changed to that designated as Bla in Fig. 8. The

-functions of switches 8m and 5|a (the latter cuting a complete cycle whereas by the earlierV described embodiment, the knife advances and returns along an L-shaped path. In producing the quadrilateral ambit of the knife which would result from operation of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 8, the apparatus executes the following steps. A strand package is gripped between the chucks l0 and H as the cylinder 29 moves chuck I0 toward chuck I l. The knife I2 is advanced by cylinder l1 from the lateral position inwardlyr toward the axis of the package. The cylinder 20 then advances the knife longitudinally through the package until the carriage I8 touches the plunger of the switch lila. The switch Sla is connected with the solenoid 85 for actuating the valve 35 to the setting `wherein it directs air into the cylinder Il through the line 38 to produce withdrawal of the knife from the package.` The carriage 24 is provided with a cam or detent 18a which engages the trigger 19a of the switch Sla as the carriage 24 moves to the position of greatest departure from the package 48. Switch 81a is electrically connected to the solenoid 64 which resets the valve 36 to the position which passes air through the line 66 into the cylinder 20. The cylinder 20 then executes a return stroke to return the knife l2 to its position at the beginning of the cycle. As the air pressure builds up within the cylinder 20 and in the line 35a, pressure overcomes the sequence valve 44 and passes into the cylinder 29 to effect retraction of the chuck l0 and to release the package. A A

If desired, apparatus may be constructed according to Fig. 8 in which the sequence valve 44 is omitted from the line 35a. Such an arrangement will result in simultaneous actuation of cylinders 20 and 29 to effect return of the carriage i8 to its starting position, and retraction of the chuck l0, to thus release the package 48 as soon as the knife has been fully retracted in a lateral directionafter completing its cutting stroke.

It is to be understood `that changes and variations may be made from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended package in which the material is wound about a core thereof, said apparatus comprising means ,material means for supporting the knife so that it projects toward the core of the package when gripped by the holding means, means for moving the knife towardsaid core into the material,

means for advancing the knife through the matei rial along the core, means actuated by the knife moving .means upon Athe lattainment of a predetermined position ofthe knife with respect to the corefor initiating actuation of the knife advancing meana'means for removing the knife away from the corefandmeans actuated by the knife advancingmeans upon the'completion of its cutting stroke for initiating actuation of the removing means.

` 3. Apparatus ,for removing a material from a package in which the material is wound about a core thereof, said apparatus comprising means for holding the package,` Va knife for cutting 'the material, means'for supporting the knife so that it projects toward the core of the package when gripped by the holding means, means for moving the knife toward said core `into the material,

. means for advancing the knife through the mafor holding the package, a knife for cutting the apackage` in which` the material is Wound about i a core thereof, saidapparatus comprising means for holding the ypackagaa knife for cutting the terial along the core, means actuated by the knife Amoving means upon the attainment of a predetermined position of the knife with` respect to thecore for initiating actuation of the knife advancing means, means for removing the knife away from the core, means actuated by the knife advancing means upon the completion of its cutting stroke for initiating actuation of the removing means, means for returning the knife along the core, and means actuated by the knife removing means for initiatingactuation of the returning means. a

4, Apparatus for removing a material from a package in which the material is wound about a core thereof, said apparatus comprising means for holding the package, a knife for cutting the material, means for supporting the knife so that it projects toward the core of the package when gripped by the holding means, means for reciprocating the knife toward and away from said core vinto and out of the material, meansfor reciproto the core for initiating actuation of the second reciprocating means through a single cycle, and means actuated by the second reciprocating means upon the completion of said cycle for initiating actuation of the first-mentioned reciprocating means through its return stroke for moving the knife `away from the core.

5. Apparatus for removing a strand material from a package comprising a rigid core and windings of the material supported thereupon, said apparatus comprising a pair of gripping members alignedalong a common axis of which one is stationary and the other is movable, a knife for cutting the strand material, means for supporting the knife so" that it extends therefrom toward the axis, means for moving the movable member toward the otherto .effect engagement of the members on opposite ends of the core, reciprocating means responsive to the core-engaging positiondof'the rst means for moving the knifesupporting means toward the axis to carry the knifeinto the strand` material, means responsive to the position of the supporting means at maximum penetration of the package by the knife i for moving the supporting means in a path later- `al1y` 'spacedwith respect to the axis to move the knife throughand thus sever the strand material,

control' means 'positioned "for engagement as the third-mentioned means completes its `forward stroke for energizing said meansto effect'a return stroke, control means forienergizingtheirecipro- Veating means to'eifect lateral'withdrawal ofthe Aknife and'positionedv for engagement'at the' completion of thereturn stroke of the third-mentioned means, and"controlmeansresponsive to theiposition of thereciprocating'means wherein the lateral Withdrawal of the knife has beencom- Vplete'd for eecting disengagement of the movable member with the core.

6. Apparatus for removing a'strand'material from a package comprising a rigid-coreand windings of the material supportedlthereupon, said apparatus comprising a pair of grippingmembers aligned along a common axis of which one is stationary and the other' is movable, aknife-"forlcutting `the strand materiaL means for supporting the knife'so that'it .extends therefrom @toward the axis, means formovin'g the 'movable member toward the other to effect engagement of the members with oppositeI ends of the core, reciproeating means responsive to the' core-engaging position of the first means for-moving v'the knifesupporting means toward the -axisvto-carry-the knife into the strand material, meansfresponsive to the position ofthe supporting'means lat maximum penetration of the package bythe knife for moving the supporting -means ina. path-laterally spaced with respect to the axis to move the knife through and thus sever the strand material, ciontrol means positioned forengagement as the third mentioned means completes its forwardstroke for energizing said means to effect -a return'stroke, control means positioned' for engagement at the completion of the return stroke ofthe third mentioned means for energizing the reciprocating "means'to effect lateral withdrawal of the-knife,

controlfmeansresponsive to the positionof the reciprocating means vwhereinthe yknife has cornpleted lateral Amovementffor energizing the means for moving the core-gripping memberto'move said-member -away from the core,-andfa 'stand for supporting the package-in a de'siredfalign- `ment for'engagemzent therewith by the gripping members. Y

-7. V-Apparatus -as-in claim 6 wherein the v various contr'il means'are electrically operated and con- 'nected totaA common supply circuit-and said apparatusalso comprises switch means in the supply circuit.

8. Apparatus as in `claim 6l wherein thevarious ccntrol means rare electrically operated-and connected to a common supply circuit-andsaid apparatus also'ccmprises twoswitches in series connection insaid circuit and spaced yto require' oper- "iuid'cylin'der for moving the lmovable"member toward `and away from the stationarymember along 1an axis vextending `tlrierebet'ween,ja carriage,V guide means for vlimiting movement 'of' the carriage along 'a path which isspacedlaterally "withrespect'to' said axis, a second-'fluid cylinder 5 f'cr reciprocating theparriagel means lfor sup- .poiting'the 'knife so that the knife extends from Vsaid supportmeans ina jdirectiontoward'the Y '-ax'is,v 'guide meansforlimitingr the movement of tlie'support' means alongv agpathj extending later- 8 ward andaway from said axis, a third `fluid cylinder for reciprocating thesupport means, anrst control means for directing iiuid into-one end ofthe first cylinder ltoeiect gripping-of the package, Va second control means in timed relationshipjwith the firstV control-'means for directing-the fluid into one end ofthe third cylinder to effect movement of the Aknife into the strand 'materialpf Ja package after the package is grippedfa f third Vcontrol means i-n timed relationship with the second control meansfordirectling the-'duid into one 'end ofthe second cylinder to 2 effect movementrof the Vrknife through the strand material longitudinally of the package, -a

fourth control means for directing the flu-id into the opposite end of the second cylinderv to effect a `return-stroke of the' knife, a 'fifth-control means responsive to a return position of the vknifefor directing the fluid into theoppositeend ofthe-third cylinder to effect lateral withdrawal of the knife, anda-sixth control means responsive lto the posiltion defining complete lateralwi'thdrawal of the knife for directing a'iiuid into' the opposite end of the rstcylinder to effect disengagement offthe :gripping means,

l0. lApparatus for'removing a strand material from'a package comprisinga rigid core and'windposition ofthe knife-supporting means atmaximum penetration of the package by thev knife for moving the supporting means in the path laterallyspaced with respect to the axis to move-the knife through and thus sever thestrand material,

control means positioned for engagement as the ythird mentioned means completes `the strandcutting stroke for energizing said reciprocating means to effect-a return stroke,4 control `means positionedfor engagement at' theY completion of the return stroke of the reciprocating meansfor simultaneously energizingY the meansy forY moving the-knife inthe path laterally spaced to the axis 1n a return stroke and the vmovable gripping member to -eifecta return stroke to free the'package.

11. Apparatus for removing a strand-material from a package comprising-a rigid core and windings cf thematerial supported thereupon,V said apparatus comprising a pair of gripping members aligned along a common axis of which one is-stationaryand the other is movable,y aknife for cutting'A the strand material, means for supporting theknife so that it extends therefrom toward the axis, means for moving the movable member to- *ward' the other to effectengagement of the members on opposite-ends of the core, reciprocating means for moving theSknife-supporting means *toward the-axis 4to carry the knife into the strand material` and responsive to the core-engaging posltion of the first means, means for moving the supporting means ina path laterally spaced with lrespect to the axisy to-move the knife through and i thus severv the strand niateraliandresponsive to `the f position of the l knife-supporting 1 means .at

maximum penetration of the package by the knife, control means positioned for engagement as the third-mentioned means completes the strand-cutting stroke for energizing said reciproeating means to effect a return stroke, control means for energizing the means for moving the knife in a path laterally spaced to the axis to effect a return stroke and positioned to be engaged at the completion of the return stroke of the reciprocating means, control means for energizing the movable gripping member to eifect a return stroke so as to release the package and responsive to the position of the means for moving 10 Y the knife along the path as said means completes the return stroke.

' ERNEST K. BAUER.

WILLIAM E. JAMES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,838,011 St. Peter Dec. 22, 1931 2,086,374 Wickie et al July 6, 1937 

